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LAGOS: Taskforce crushes over 400 seized motorcycles, says it is instrument of crime

·        Passengers are the enablers — Don

THE Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences (Enforcement Unit) also known as Taskforce has crushed over 400 commercial motorbikes popularly called Okada seized from defaulting riders across the state.

This is coming shortly after the former Dean, School of Transport, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Samuel Gbadegesin Odewumi called on the State Government to seek support of Federal Government agencies in apprehending motorcycle riders plying restricted routes in the metropolis.

Speaking during the crushing of the motorbikes on Saturday, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu said the act will serve as a deterrent to others.

His words: “Over the years, we’ve observed that the motorcycles we are seeing here now have been part of the instrument they use in committing crime. When somebody is to be kidnapped, they do it with Okada, when somebody’s bag is snatched at the bus-stop, they do that with Okada. With the traffic now, Okadas are being used to commit crime.”

“And because of this now, the state government, in its wisdom, decided that Okadas should be restricted in some areas of the state. We have started this enforcement for a long time, yet they are still in town, because Rome was not built in a day. But we will not give them breathing space.

“Some people have insinuated that we sell back the Okadas to those we collect them from, thereby recycling it. That’s why we decided to let the Doubting Thomases know that we don’t sell Okada. The law says they should be crushed once they are impounded. And that’s why we decided to demonstrate this,” Odumosu added.

In January 2020, Lagos State Government proscribed operations of the commercial motorcycles and tricycles in six Local Government Areas (LGAs), nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) and 10 major highways across the state.

The government also banned Okada and tricycles from plying 40 bridges and flyovers across the state. Following the proscription, the Taskforce embarked on total enforcement of the State’s Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.

The aim was to address the chaos and disorderliness created by illegal operations of Okada and tricycle riders in restricted areas. Despite the restriction, defiance to extant laws has been on the rise.

Whether on the highways or inner roads, Okada riders are seen flouting traffic laws with impunity and any attempt to make them do the right thing often results in insults or outright violence.

Odumosu stated that the seizure of such commercial motorcycles is a penalty for breaking the law that restricts the two-wheel machine from some routes in the state.

According to Odewunmi, law enforcement has become a huge challenge for Lagos State Government. “Just imagine the mob killing of a police officer consequent upon an attempt to enforce the law on Okada riders.

“You hear of skirmishes of riots whenever any serious effort is made by the state government to impound the bikes as a form of enforcement. The state government should just be pitied,” he said.

He stated that with the rising statistics of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officers killed and injured in the state, is an obvious indication that Lagos is grappling with a grave situation.

The don, however, suggested that law enforcement officers should start arresting passengers instead of the riders, saying, “if there is no client the riders will go on the other roads where they are permitted. The passengers are the enablers.

“They are easy targets because they will not likely be able to mobilise riots and mayhem like the riders.”

He urged the state government to seek federal government support so that federal agencies like Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Police can help in the enforcement.

He also advocated massive mobilisation of law enforcement agencies to specific routes for a period of a week, adding that the huge number of enforcers can then select another route by random rotation.

“When the number of enforcers is huge, it discourages any attempt to cause mayhem,” Odewunmi stated.

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